HC Deb 06 February 1951 vol 483 cc185-6W
88. Brigadier Prior-Palmer

asked the Secretary of State for War how many rifles have been disposed of either by gift, sale or destruction since the close of hostilities, giving figures in each category.

Mr. Strachey

No rifles have been given away, 800,000 have been sold to other Governments, 825,000 have been handed over to the Ministry of Supply for disposal and 184,000 have been destroyed by fire. These figures, which are based on the records available, are not complete, as it is known that there were some disposals, gifts and destruction of rifles overseas of which, owing to lapse of time and destruction of records, details are not now available.